Speaking up — it's the American way

Bruce BensonColumnist

Published: Saturday, July 20, 2013 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, July 19, 2013 at 8:11 a.m.

Years ago, one of the Dixie Chicks said, at one of their concerts, that they were ashamed of the fact George W. Bush came from Texas. The backlash was as huge as it was unexpected, at least by the Dixie Chicks. Many people demanded they apologize. Their concerts were boycotted. Death threats were made.

I remember seeing the lead singer on television at that time, and she had an expression of bewilderment on her face. It appeared she couldn't understand why people would react so hatefully. And so un-Americanly. All she did was spout some words.

But the Dixie Chicks recovered their composure and wrote a beautiful song titled, "Not Ready to Play Nice." I love that song, and the powerful lyrics make the hairs on my arms stand on end:

I made my bed and I sleep like a baby

With no regrets and I don't mind sayin'

It's a sad sad story when a mother will teach her

Daughter that she ought to hate a perfect stranger

And how in the world can the words that I said

Send somebody so over the edge

That they'd write me a letter

Sayin' that I better shut up and sing

Or my life will be over

I'm not ready to make nice

I'm not ready to back down

I'm still mad as hell and

I don't have time to go round and round and round

It's too late to make it right

I probably wouldn't if I could

‘Cause I'm mad as hell

Can't bring myself to do what it is you think I should

These women, in my opinion, are American heroes. Not for what they said about George Bush — that is neither here nor there. It is immaterial. No, these women are American heroes because they stood up for what they believed in: free speech. They would not be bullied. And there are bullies everywhere.

Since I started writing this column several months ago, many people have made positive comments about my writing and the subject matter I choose. But I have also been called a blasphemer, an idiot, accused of using my daughter as bait to pick up women in bars, a drunk. It's been suggested I leave the country more than once. One friendly writer suggested I not get caught by the masses in a dark alley when I did a satirical piece on nationalizing churches. All because of words on a page.

I had a friend who died years ago, Gerry Johnson. He was a great man for many reasons, but one aspect of his character that really struck me was that, for Gerry, nothing, and nobody, was beyond scrutiny. He would question everything, every belief, everything he read and heard. He brought trouble to himself many times, but he was undeterred in his curiosity and his exercise of free speech.

I spoke at his funeral. "Some people may be squirming in their seats, but this is Gerry Johnson's funeral, and what must be said, will be said." And people were squirming in their seats.

My predecessor in this column space, Stephen Black, is also such a man. Many people in this town love him, and many hate him. He's aware of that. In his unflinching honesty, he has angered many people with his words. He's been called far worse things than I have, but it doesn't seem to bother him. I take my lead from such people.

My column last Saturday about the absolute necessity of instilling an ethic of hard work into our children brought ire from one reader. He wrote, among other things: "If we have to have a progressive, at least let's have one of our own and let the import (being me) export somewhere else."

Another call for me to leave the country.

Like Black, it doesn't bother me. He has a right to say what he pleases. I remember hearing someone say, "I may strongly disagree with what you say, but I'd fight to the death for your right to say it."

Today our democracy is threatened by the notion that we must give up our freedom to be safe. Our government is watching us more closely than ever. Our schools are threatened by politicians who seem not to care about our youths, which means by extension they don't care about our future. Our environment is threatened by greed — let's frack that gas.

Bodies of our young men and women arrive back from foreign wars fought for oil companies. Thousands of innocent civilians are killed in these wars. I don't even want to call them wars — more like acts of aggression. Surely that term is understandable here in the South. The surviving family members of these dead innocents will hate America for generations. Many will seek retribution, and the terrible cycle will continue. There are serious problems, and there is a need to speak up about them. After all, it's the American way.

To be as unflinchingly honest as Stephen Black, as courageous as the Dixie Chicks, and as curious and questioning as Gerry Johnson is something to aspire to.

What must be said, will be said.

Bruce Benson is a Canadian writer and journalist who makes Hendersonville his home. Reach him at bensonusa@ hotmail.com.

<p>Years ago, one of the Dixie Chicks said, at one of their concerts, that they were ashamed of the fact George W. Bush came from Texas. The backlash was as huge as it was unexpected, at least by the Dixie Chicks. Many people demanded they apologize. Their concerts were boycotted. Death threats were made.</p><p>I remember seeing the lead singer on television at that time, and she had an expression of bewilderment on her face. It appeared she couldn't understand why people would react so hatefully. And so un-Americanly. All she did was spout some words.</p><p>But the Dixie Chicks recovered their composure and wrote a beautiful song titled, "Not Ready to Play Nice." I love that song, and the powerful lyrics make the hairs on my arms stand on end:</p><p>I made my bed and I sleep like a baby</p><p>With no regrets and I don't mind sayin'</p><p>It's a sad sad story when a mother will teach her</p><p>Daughter that she ought to hate a perfect stranger</p><p>And how in the world can the words that I said</p><p>Send somebody so over the edge</p><p>That they'd write me a letter</p><p>Sayin' that I better shut up and sing</p><p>Or my life will be over</p><p>I'm not ready to make nice</p><p>I'm not ready to back down</p><p>I'm still mad as hell and</p><p>I don't have time to go round and round and round</p><p>It's too late to make it right</p><p>I probably wouldn't if I could</p><p>'Cause I'm mad as hell</p><p>Can't bring myself to do what it is you think I should </p><p>These women, in my opinion, are American heroes. Not for what they said about George Bush — that is neither here nor there. It is immaterial. No, these women are American heroes because they stood up for what they believed in: free speech. They would not be bullied. And there are bullies everywhere.</p><p>Since I started writing this column several months ago, many people have made positive comments about my writing and the subject matter I choose. But I have also been called a blasphemer, an idiot, accused of using my daughter as bait to pick up women in bars, a drunk. It's been suggested I leave the country more than once. One friendly writer suggested I not get caught by the masses in a dark alley when I did a satirical piece on nationalizing churches. All because of words on a page.</p><p>I had a friend who died years ago, Gerry Johnson. He was a great man for many reasons, but one aspect of his character that really struck me was that, for Gerry, nothing, and nobody, was beyond scrutiny. He would question everything, every belief, everything he read and heard. He brought trouble to himself many times, but he was undeterred in his curiosity and his exercise of free speech.</p><p>I spoke at his funeral. "Some people may be squirming in their seats, but this is Gerry Johnson's funeral, and what must be said, will be said." And people were squirming in their seats.</p><p>My predecessor in this column space, Stephen Black, is also such a man. Many people in this town love him, and many hate him. He's aware of that. In his unflinching honesty, he has angered many people with his words. He's been called far worse things than I have, but it doesn't seem to bother him. I take my lead from such people.</p><p>My column last Saturday about the absolute necessity of instilling an ethic of hard work into our children brought ire from one reader. He wrote, among other things: "If we have to have a progressive, at least let's have one of our own and let the import (being me) export somewhere else."</p><p>Another call for me to leave the country.</p><p>Like Black, it doesn't bother me. He has a right to say what he pleases. I remember hearing someone say, "I may strongly disagree with what you say, but I'd fight to the death for your right to say it."</p><p>Today our democracy is threatened by the notion that we must give up our freedom to be safe. Our government is watching us more closely than ever. Our schools are threatened by politicians who seem not to care about our youths, which means by extension they don't care about our future. Our environment is threatened by greed — let's frack that gas.</p><p>Bodies of our young men and women arrive back from foreign wars fought for oil companies. Thousands of innocent civilians are killed in these wars. I don't even want to call them wars — more like acts of aggression. Surely that term is understandable here in the South. The surviving family members of these dead innocents will hate America for generations. Many will seek retribution, and the terrible cycle will continue. There are serious problems, and there is a need to speak up about them. After all, it's the American way.</p><p>To be as unflinchingly honest as Stephen Black, as courageous as the Dixie Chicks, and as curious and questioning as Gerry Johnson is something to aspire to.</p><p>What must be said, will be said.</p><p>Bruce Benson is a Canadian writer and journalist who makes Hendersonville his home. Reach him at bensonusa@ hotmail.com.</p>